Princess Marie Gabriele of Luxembourg

Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Luxembourg (Marie-Gabrielle Aldegunde Wilhelmine Louise; 2 August 1925 – 9 February 2023) was a Luxembourgish princess, the third daughter and fourth child of Grand Duchess Charlotte (1896–1985) and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma (1893–1970).

Early life Princess Marie-Gabrielle was born at Berg Castle, Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, as Princess of Luxembourg, Princess of Nassau, Princess of Bourbon-Parma.

Facing the German invasion on 10 May 1940 during World War II, the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg left the country to find refuge in Portugal, after receiving transit visas from the Portuguese consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes, in June 1940. They arrived at Vilar Formoso on 23 June 1940. After travelling through Coimbra and Lisbon, the family first stayed in Cascais, in Casa de Santa Maria, owned by Manuel Espírito Santo, who was then the honorary consul for Luxembourg in Portugal. By July they had moved to Monte Estoril, staying at the Chalet Posser de Andrade.

On 10 July 1940, Princess Marie Gabrielle, together with her father Prince Félix, her siblings, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean, Princess Elisabeth, Princess Marie Adelaide, Prince Charles and Princess Alix, the nanny Justine Reinard and the chauffeur Eugène Niclou, along with his wife Joséphine, boarded the S.S. Trenton headed for New York City. In order not to void the United States' then neutrality, the family moved to Canada. During their stay in the country, Marie-Gabrielle and her sisters attended the "Collège Jesus-Marie de Sillery", in Québec, and settled in the "Villa Saint-Joseph", inhabited by their paternal aunt, Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, Empress of Austria, which hosted them. Subsequently, in 1943, Princess Marie-Gabrielle settled in the United Kingdom, where, together with her sisters, she volunteered for the British Red Cross.

Two years later, on 17 April 1945, she returned to post-war Luxembourg with her sisters and brother Charles.

Princess Marie-Gabrielle became godmother to the future Grand Duke Henri, born in 1955.

Marriage and family Princess Marie-Gabrielle met her future husband Count Knud Johan Ludvig of Holstein-Ledreborg (2 October 1919 – 25 June 2001), descendant of Count Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg, at the 1946 silver wedding of her uncle Prince René of Bourbon-Parma and his wife Princess Margrethe of Denmark, which was celebrated at 'Bernstorffshøj' - the home of Prince Axel of Denmark.

Ancestry

Notes and references